BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
After two shocking losses to Tulane in the past two years, the University of Cincinnati football players are watching what they say entering tonight's season opener vs. the Green Wave at Nippert Stadium.
"Last year we talked about payback," UC senior quarterback Chad Plummer said. "This time, it's just a game we want and need to win. You can talk about revenge, but we can't shoot ourselves in the foot again."
UC lost to Tulane 34-14 in its 1996 opener at Nippert, then fell 31-17 in New Orleans last year. The Bearcats were favorites both times, but this year are a two-point underdog in the Conference USA game.
|
TULANE at UC
|
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m., Nippert Stadium (35,000).
TV: Channel 19.
Radio: WLW-AM (700).
Favorite: Tulane by 2.
Last meeting: 1997 -- Tulane 31, UC 17.
Series: Tulane leads 8-2.
What to watch: How will UC handle Tulane quarterback Shaun King, who terrorized the Bearcats for four TD throws last year. UC forced Tulane into several third-and-long situations, but King wriggled out of them. King is the preseason choice for player of the year in Conference USA.
Offensively, UC must gas up a passing attack that threw for only 115 yards per game last year, ranking 106th nationally. Tulane's defense will be sitting on the running game.
|
UC comes off an 8-4 season and its first bowl game since 1950, a 35-19 Humanitarian Bowl win over Utah State. Tulane finished 7-4 last year, its first winning season since 1981.
The Green Wave's 14-point defeat of UC was the Bearcats' worst of 1997.
Most important, tonight is a league game. The C-USA champion gets an automatic bid to the Liberty Bowl, and if UC loses, its title hopes may be dashed.
Why? For one, Tulane is picked to finish second in the league. For another, UC does not play C-USA favorite Southern Mississippi this year. Therefore, UC coach Rick Minter believes a win tonight would give UC the equivalent of a 1 1/2-game jump on the league.
The problem: UC returns only 12 starters, the fewest in Conference USA. Tulane returns 10 starters on offense alone, a group that scored 34 points per game last year.
"We're still trying to determine who we are," Minter said. "You don't replace five NFL draft choices with redshirt freshmen."
UC lost five players to the draft last spring, the school's highest total since 1960. Two will start NFL games Sunday -- tackle Jason Fabini of the New York Jets and cornerback Artrell Hawkins of the Bengals. The other three -- linebacker Brad Jackson of Tennessee, defensive lineman Derrick Ransom of Kansas City, and tight end Rod Monroe of Atlanta -- also claimed roster spots.
Even with all that talent, the Bearcats couldn't handle a Tulane program which, at the time, had won only five games during the previous three years. Green Wave coach Tommy Bowden, the son of Florida State's Bobby and brother of Auburn's Terry, was a rookie head coach when his team surprised UC at the Superdome one year ago.
"We're gonna get their best shot this time," Bowden said. "It's a big game for both of us, and I know Rick will have them prepared."
UC goes in with Minter's "two-headed quarterback" of Plummer and sophomore Deontey Kenner, who alternated in the bowl game with great success. Plummer gets the first snaps, then shifts to wide receiver when Kenner comes in at quarterback. Just how much Kenner will play depends on the flow of the game, Minter said.
At running back, senior Orlando Smith will be the featured man for UC. The bruising Smith (6-foot-0, 245 lbs.) led UC with 78 yards and a TD in the bowl game.
Defensively UC is led by senior safety Tinker Keck, who is best known for returning four punts for touchdowns in 1997. Keck also led UC with four interceptions last year, and heads a secondary that should be the strength of the defense.
Tulane quarterback Shaun King returns with receiver JaJuan Dawson, who caught three touchdowns against UC last year. But the Wave can also run with two outstanding backs, Jamaican Dartez and Toney Converse, who combined to rush for 1,288 yards last year.
Want more?
Tulane returns the two top kickers in the league in punter Brad Hill (46.2-yard average) and placekicker Brad Palazzo, who led the nation in scoring by kickers last year (9.9 per game).
Football story list
